The Avalanche fans who booed Matt Duchene on Friday night at the Pepsi Center might not realize how grateful the organization will feel after the final piece of the Duchene trade is examined years down the road.
Duchene wanted out of Colorado, and that doesn’t feel good for Coloradans, but ultimately his departure will be viewed as the turning point for the once-proud franchise on the rise.
Avs defenseman Sam Girard, who came over from Nashville in the three-team Duchene trade that is approaching its Nov. 5 anniversary, was a key player in Friday’s 6-3 victory over Duchene and the Ottawa Senators.